The speculation about Xavi Hernandez taking over as the head coach of Barcelona has been ongoing for quite some time now. The former Barcelona midfielder has been linked with the job on multiple occasions, and the rumors gained more traction after the departure of Quique Setien.
Who is Xavi Hernandez?
Xavi Hernandez is a legendary footballer who spent most of his playing career at Barcelona. He joined the club’s youth academy at the age of 11 and went on to make over 700 appearances for the first team. Xavi was an integral part of the team that won numerous titles, including La Liga, Copa del Rey, Champions League, and FIFA Club World Cup.
After leaving Barcelona in 2015, Xavi played for Al-Sadd in Qatar for four seasons before retiring from professional football in 2019. He then took over as the head coach of Al-Sadd and has been doing an impressive job with the team.
Why is Xavi being linked to Barcelona?
Xavi’s connection with Barcelona goes beyond his playing days. He understands the club’s philosophy and values better than most people, having come through their youth system and played under legendary coaches such as Johan Cruyff and Pep Guardiola.
The current state of affairs at Barcelona is far from ideal, with multiple issues plaguing the club on and off the field. The team’s performances have been below par in recent years, and they suffered a humiliating defeat to Bayern Munich in last season’s Champions League quarter-finals.
As a result, there have been calls for a change in leadership, with many fans and pundits calling for a new coach to be appointed. Xavi’s name has come up repeatedly due to his association with Barcelona and his success as a coach at Al-Sadd.
What are Xavi’s views on coaching Barcelona?
Xavi has never hidden his desire to manage Barcelona someday. He has spoken about it publicly on several occasions and has even admitted that he turned down an offer to take over as head coach in January 2020.
In a recent interview, Xavi revealed that he had been in touch with Barcelona’s sporting director, Ramon Planes, and that they had discussed the possibility of him taking over as head coach in the future. However, Xavi made it clear that he was focused on his job at Al-Sadd for now and was not thinking about leaving the club anytime soon.
Conclusion
While there is no official confirmation yet, it seems highly likely that Xavi will eventually take over as the head coach of Barcelona. His success as a player and coach, coupled with his deep understanding of the club’s ethos, make him an ideal candidate for the job.
However, it remains to be seen when this will happen and under what circumstances. For now, Barcelona fans can only hope that their beloved club can turn things around under their current coach Ronald Koeman.